My Place & Yours : That's Nice, That's Different, That's Unusual...

I'm playing My Place & Yours again this week with Pip & Toni and the topic this week is 'That's nice, that's different, that's unusual', as Kath & Kim would say.  I chose the stangest little shadow box in our kitchen.  We've never understood why it was put there or how you would use it. It's really close to the ground, in a walkway, between the entrance to the kitchen & the doorway to the laundry- it's just odd! I don't get it, but if anyone has some practical ideas for its being there please share them with me, I'd love to hear your thoughts...

and behind...nothing...

Baby's Growing Up

Amongst all the chaos that was our place last night, my baby decided he would get himself ready for bed.  This came out of nowhere, for the first time ever he dressed himself! I offered to help, and was told I wasn't needed.  Knowing his very short fuse I assured him I was here if he needed me & there was no need to get angry if he got a bit stuck.  Sure enough there was a whole lot of screaming & throwing of jammies across the room, but ever so determined he did it, on his own!  Now, if only we could convince him to toilet train...

Lots of yelling and stamping of feet went on about here...

and again here...

Proud as Punch!

Mum's Night

We had Mothers Night at kinder yesterday, it was really nice to spend time with my little dark haired boy! We played Star Wars (I was Princess Leia, he was Han Solo) we raced, we danced, he gave me a massage, I read him a story, he made me a bracelet and he did my makeup - yes, makeup! I looked like a 'lady of the night' by the time he'd finished! Then he did my nails and served me a plate of nibbles.  Great fun was had by all....the challenge is keeping this polish on as long as I can so as not to offend.  My youngest is a great fan of nail polish - loves it!  As I woke, the immediate shock of the red polish made me think for a brief second I was bleeding to death!  Then my little guy said "ooohhh, Mummy your polish is beautiful! Can jimmy do mine too?!"

My Creative Space

The old sewing machine always frightened me before.  I'm always looking at the amazing things people make & dreamily wish I could sew!  So I dragged the scary beast out of its box (where it's been since my parents bought it for me 4years ago) and set it up on our dining table where it sat for a few days, tempting me, willing me to sit in front of it. And eventually I did! Over the last week I've been 'playing' with it, and it turns out, it's not so scary!  I'm having heaps of fun!

A cuddly owl,

and some cushions...

Last weeks creations...cushions are a good introduction to sewing, I've found...hubby thinks we probably have enough now, he could be right, there's barely room on the spare room couch for us to sit. I'll need to get a little more adventurous...

See more creative lovelies here.

My Place & Yours : My Collection

This weeks theme for  My Place & Yours was chosen by Kate at Foxs Lane and the fabulous topic she has chosen is My Collection(s).  There are lots of things I love to pick up on my travels - old stools, cushions, tins, wine barrels, pyjamas, fabric, buttons - the list is long, but my latest fascination is mirrors.  I have picked up a mirror from almost every garage sale I've been to this year! Sadly, we don't have room to hang them all, so I've been alternating them every now & then.  I'm really tempted to make a mirror feature wall, but I'm not sure if it might look a bit creepy somehow...what do you think?  Here are a few favourites....

A Starry Christmas

I couldn't go past these little tin stars, then found the perfect branch & made this years alternative to a wreath! I love the tinkle you hear every time the door opens and closes - like Christmas bells!

A Sewing Frenzy!

It is so unlike me, I have gone into a complete sewing frenzy, I can't stop!  I very, very, rarely use a sewing machine & when I do it seems to take so long to produce a single item that I can't be bothered doing anymore.  But something has come over me in the last 24hours, so far I've made 3 snuggle toys and two bedroom cushions! It's not going to stop there...I'm going to make heaps of things...my mind is bursting with inspiration - I won't question the frenzy any longer, I'm going to embrace it & sew to my hearts content - it's hysterical!

What Have You Been Making?

It's funny you should ask Pip...I dreamed of this funny little owl cushion/cuddle thing last night, so today we made him!  He's a little bit cooky & rugged but I like him...

He's already being loved with sticky hands & dribbled on with icecream

...and shown around the garden by being catapulted over the barbeque

...and now left to rest in our reading spot where he awaits more cuddles at story time. 

I think I'll make him a friend or two...

...and so, a few hours later...

Friends...

My Place & Yours : Through The Front Door

This weeks meme for Meet Me At Mikes is 'Through The Front Door' by this weeks Theme Queen Femme de Montmartre.  I am such a homebody, I love being home and pottering about.   The kids love it too, rarely hanging around to tell me that they are board.  They're always out in the yard playing out wonderful adventures, in their rooms building or wrestling in the living room - never a dull moment! Coming home after a long & busy day  is always a great feeling, a sense of peace just washes over you, I love home - my favourite place in the whole world...

Our front door - a bit of a dumping ground...

Our front door opens straight into the family room - our living space, play space, entertaining space, catching up on the day space...

::My Place & Yours :: Secret Weapon

The theme for My Place & Yours this week is your Secret Weapon.  I wasn't sure I'd play this time around as a couldn't for the life of me think of a solitary thing worthy of sharing, other than perhaps the essential rouge on the cheeks every day ( it's the only makeup I ever wear & I never leave home without it!) but that seemed a little dull.  After telling this to my hubby last night he said I had to be kidding! He said that surely my secret weapon is my incredible ability to have an idea, plant the seed and sit patiently while this idea very slowly comes to life, when 6 months later my husband miraculously has the very same idea!  I guess this is a bit of a weapon, although it does sound a bit sinister, and it  is obviously not a secret if he knows about it! How fascinating that he still succumbs....

Gotta Get Busy...

I pulled all this stuff out and dumped it on the dresser a couple of days ago when I was all inspired to get my Christmas orders ready - it's been sitting there ever since & not a piece has been started yet! As we don't have a designated work space to keep things out of the way, our bedroom is it! Needless to say hubby's getting a bit over pulling ribbon out of his undies drawer and moving canvas from one side of the bench to the other.  I've got to get busy, I've lost my inspiration - and now the sun's shining, it's beautiful days ahead...oohhh I'm torn, that nagging voice in the back of my head will make a breakthrough soon & guilt will prevail - I'm sure of it!

A Birthday!

It's our baby's 3rd Birthday today & boy was he 'Mr it & a bit'! We had a great day, just hanging out at home most of the time, playing with new toys, baking his Buzz & Woody cake.  His favourite word today is 'Lovely'.  My cake is lovely, my rocket is lovely, flowers are lovely, my birthday is lovely....and on it goes.  I have to say it really was a lovely day, however, 3 hours past his bed time & he is still lying in bed singing to himself - the loveliness is beginning to fade...

My Blog HQ

Hello! This is my blog HQ & one of the most used spaces in our house. It used to be a bit of a 'nothing' space in our main living room just under the stairs.  We'd end up throwing toys & bits and pieces there at the end of the day until we eventually decided it would make the perfect home office - and voila! It's hard to believe, but we had been without a home computer for 8yrs! So, it was very exciting when we finally invested in one.  We wanted to be sure it was in a practical place where it could be utilised by all of us.  Our eight yr old spends a fair bit of time writing stories here,  our 5yr old loves to draw & create masterpieces here & our 3 yr old...well he really just likes to annoy anyone who is busy here! I actually love this spot. It's light and close to all the action, so I can still see what little monkey's are up to at any given time!
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